We slept together that night next to the tree, waking up to the sun glinting prettily off the orbs in the trees and making the water sparkle gracefully.

"It's so beautiful here in the morning," she murmured as she pulled on her cloak. "All the time."

"Mm," I nodded, stepping into my shoes. "So, what's our plan?"

"We're closest to Macalania Temple," she said, slipping a dagger into one of her boots. "I think we should go there first. After that, we'll double back through the woods and hit Bevelle."

"All in one day?"

She smiled and nodded. "Yup!"

"Feeling ambitious, are we?"

"More like… invincible," she said.

"Do you think… do you think they'll shun us at the temples?" I asked.

She took my hand as I adjusted the weight of the pack on my back. "What Yevon doesn't know won't hurt it."

I nodded. "I suppose."

"Well then, let's go," she said, leading me from the secluded area and out of the woods. We grabbed some breakfast and a few supplies at the Macalania Travel Agency before trekking the insanely cold and long road to Macalania Temple.

"It's freezing," she said through chattering teeth, as we tried to huddle close together for warmth.

"Uh-huh," I agreed.

"I've heard it's even c-colder on Gagazet," she said.

"Sounds like fun," I sighed, wondering how well my sarcasm carried through the cold. "Is it usually like this?"

"There's not usually so much wind and snow," she replied, attempting to pull her cloak closed further. "It's usually quite docile, and the sn-snow sparkles in the sunlight."

"Let's hope it's more like that after we're done at the temple," I said, a shiver running down my spine. "Are we almost there?"

"It's just ahead," she said, taking her hand from her cloak momentarily and pointing to it. I glimpsed pews ahead before putting my head down again, in attempt to prevent my eyes from getting numerous flakes in them.

:::

When we walked out of the temple, completely braced for the freezing snowstorm that had battered us on our journey up, we were met with the sun and sparkling snow that Alex had mentioned.

"This is more like it," she said, looking around at the snowdrifts and icicles. "This is what I remember."

"That's good," I nodded. "Now at least we won't have to worry about the wind sweeping us away."

"That we won't," she agreed. "So, on to Bevelle?"

"On to Bevelle."

We backtracked along the path and through the woods via the sparkling rainbow road, which wove through the treetops.

"This road is so amazing," she awed, looking down at the road. "I mean, look at it! I can see right through it, and yet, I feel so… safe."

"I know what you mean," I said. "It is quite marvelous. But I'm learning, more and more every day, that Spira is full of wonders, many of them unknown."

"Like?"

"Aeons, summonings… and then, of course, you," I grinned.

"Do you know how cheesy that is?" she laughed.

"I'm well aware," I informed her with a chuckle.

"Good," she smiled. "But it's okay. I go for cheesy."

"I am also well aware of that."

"Hey! You didn't have to say it like that!"

"Didn't I?"

"No!"

I laughed. "You are wonderful, Lady Alex."

"Why thank you."

We walked on in comfortable silence for a few minutes just taking in the view from the treetops, drastically different from that on the ground.

"Auron, didn't Braska say that he, Mara, and Yuna live in Bevelle?"

I thought about it a moment. "He did, come to think of it," I observed. "Wow, how could I have forgotten already?"

"A lot's happened in the last few days," she said, laying a hand on my shoulder. "I don't fault you for it."

"Well, I fault me for it," I said. "This never gets back to Braska when we see them, okay?"

"Okay…" she said with a smirk.

"You won't tell him."

"Nope."

"Not a word."

"I promise, Auron," she laughed. "I'm just kidding around."

"All right, then," I sighed. "Let's just get to Bevelle."

We stepped off the rainbow path and headed left, through some trees and past a large, deep lake.

"So that's the lake," Alex murmured. "When we come back, we should stay here."

"If you will it, it shall be done," I told her.

"Oh stop, you're making me sound superior or something," she laughed. "I mean, it's cute and all, but in small doses."

"I don't give it to you in small doses?" I inquired as we moved on to the bridge to Bevelle.

"Eh," she shrugged. "Sometimes."

"I'll watch my tongue, then."

"My thanks."

We shared a laugh as we walked onto one of the insanely busy streets.

"I wonder where it is that Braska and Mara live," Alex wondered. "And I wonder why they picked Bevelle."

"It's a very big city, lots of culture," I observed.

"Yes, but at the same time, I wouldn't really call it the ideal place to raise a child," she said.

"Maybe," I nodded. "Then again, I know your ideal place."

She smiled. "Of course you do."

"Auron? Lady Alex?" called a voice from behind us. We turned to see Braska walking briskly toward us.

"Braska!" I exclaimed. I walked up to him and shook his hand. "How have you been?"

"Not bad, not bad at all," he said. "And the two of you? How has the pilgrimage been going? Anything exciting?"

"You have no idea," Alex laughed. "We have so much to catch up on. Is Mara with you?"

He shook his head. "She's at home with Yuna. Actually, let's go there—I'm sure she wouldn't mind some last-minute guests, since it's you two."

"Splendid," Alex grinned. "Lead the way, Braska!"

He nodded, mirroring her expression. "Yes, ma'am!"

Braska led us through the seemingly endless maze of tall buildings with aplomb as Alex and I gazed up at their dizzying heights.

"So many buildings," she awed. "Did you ever get lost?"

Braska chuckled. "At first, yes, but it's a fairly uncomplicated layout once you get to know the city."

"I think we'll stick with you for a while," I said as we approached a fairly small home.

"That's quite all right," Braska assured us, opening the door. "Mara, we're home!"

"'We?'" Mara's voice called from another room. "Who's 'we?'"

"Hello, Mara!" Alex called. "Do you mind having some impromptu dinner guests?"

"Lady Alex?" Mara walked into the kitchen, wiping her hands on a hand towel. "Oh my goodness, it is you!" She tossed the towel down on a table and gave Alex a tight hug. "You're safe!"

"Thanks to Auron," she said, glancing over at me and smiling.

"She gives me too much credit," I said, waving my hand dismissively.

"Anyway," Mara said, interrupting her embrace with Alex to shake my hand. "I'm going to go get Yuna from the living room. Please, take a seat, make yourselves at home. We have so much to catch up on."

"Yes, we do," Alex nodded, throwing me another glance.

"Lady Alex, why don't you go with Mara?" Braska suggested. "I'd like to talk to Auron for a moment."

"Sure," Alex shrugged. "Show me the way, Mara."

Mara shot her husband a confused look before leading Alex from the front room. Braska sat down on a sofa.

"So, Auron, how are things going?" he asked. "Did you follow my advice?"

"I did…" I hesitated. "For a while."

Braska raised his eyebrow at me. "'For a while?'"

"Until the night we came to the Moonflow," I told him, sitting on the other side of the sofa. "Then, we were swimming in the water with the pyreflies, and she said… she told me that she loved me."

"Really?" he asked, both his eyebrows high on his forehead.

"Well, she didn't put it exactly that way, but that was the general idea, yes," I nodded. "We… we kissed for the first time that night. It was just about the most amazing thing I'd ever experienced, to that point." I recalled the night, clear as if it had happened yesterday.

"To that point?"

"Braska… how terrible a person would I be if I asked her to—"

"Look who's up!" Mara proclaimed, coming back into the room holding little Yuna. She smiled widely at me, her eyes, one green and one blue, alight with happiness.

"Hello, Yuna," I greeted, waving at her. I thought for a moment, then rose from the sofa. "Mara, would you mind if I held her?"

Alex and Braska looked at me, surprised, but Mara seemed perfectly unfazed.

"Absolutely," she said, handing Yuna to me. I held her on my hip, and she giggled cheerfully. I glanced over at Alex, who was beaming at the sight of me holding her.

"It looks natural," she said softly, walking over to me.

"So, let's chat," Mara said, sitting in an armchair across from the sofa as I resumed my seat, shifting Yuna to my knee, and Alex took up one next to me. "Alex tells me some very interesting news."

"She did, did she?" I asked, looking at her. She winked and drew a halo over her head with her finger.

"She took my advice," Mara smiled. "And told me how it happened. I'm really happy for you two."

"Aww, thanks," Alex said, taking my hand. "But I feel so… oh, what's the word… illegal? I suppose that would be it. Since Auron technically isn't supposed to take a partner or anything…"

"Technically, he hasn't taken a partner just yet," Braska noted. "But I get what you mean."

"Exactly," Alex nodded. "And I can't imagine what it's going to be like when I go off to fight Sin…"

"Let's not think about that now," Mara encouraged.

"Yes," Braska agreed. "In its stead, how about we contemplate the question Auron was going to ask me?"

"You were going to ask something?" Alex asked.

"When you came in, yes, I was in the process of making an inquiry," I confirmed.

"Well, go on," Alex encouraged.

"Actually, it's kind of a guy question," I admitted. "No offense, Lady Alex."

"None taken," she said. "I'll just… go freshen up in the restroom. Five minutes enough?"

"I think so," I nodded. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it." She kissed my cheek before getting up and heading for the bathroom. I handed Yuna over to Braska and took a deep breath.

"So? What is it?" Braska asked. "Is something wrong?"

"No… not really…" I was not quite sure how to ask it. "Braska… how awful of a person—of a guardian—would I be if I asked Alex to quit her pilgrimage and marry me?"

"Marry you?" Braska repeated as Mara gasped and put her hands over her mouth.

"I think you should do it!" she exclaimed a moment later.

"Really?" I inquired.

"Absolutely!" she said enthusiastically.

"Mara's an Al Bhed," Braska explained. "They're quite against summoners going on their pilgrimages and sacrificing themselves to defeat Sin, when it just keeps coming back."

"Oh," I said slowly, with a nod.

"Does that change your opinion of me at all, Sir Auron?"

"Not at all," I assured her. "In fact, I'm glad you're behind me. And you, Braska?"

"I think that you should do whatever your gut tells you to do," Braska advised. "But be aware of the repercussions."

"Braska knows something of this situation," Mara explained. "He was practicing to become a summoner—even had an aeon—when we met. When Yevon found out he was married, they were initially overjoyed—you know, that's how they react for summoners—" I nodded. "But then they discovered his wife was Al Bhed, and he was excommunicated."

"I'll shun Yevon for the rest of time if it means she can be my wife," I said softly. "Should I ask her, though? Would she even consider it?"

"You know her best," Mara said. "What do you think?"

"I think she'd think about it," I said, somewhat confidently. "I really do."

"Then by all means," Braska said, giving me a reassuring smile. "Ask. We're behind you."

"All three of us," Mara said, waving at Yuna, who clapped and laughed.

"Then I will," I said with absolution. "Tonight. Oh, speaking of which, might you happen to have a spare room here?"

"Yes, we do," Mara nodded. "It's going to become Yuna's room soon, so forgive the purple paint and boxed up baby furniture, but there is a bed in there at the moment."

"You're welcome to stay as long as you like," Braska informed me.

Down the hall, a door opened and Alex walked back into the room.

"All good?" she asked.

"Yes," I said, standing up and walking over to her. "Where's that room, Mara?"

"Next to the bathroom," she said. "You can go on and set up your things in there, if you like. I'm going to go check on dinner."

"Great," I said. "Thank you both for letting us stay here."

"It's our pleasure," Braska said. "As long as you don't mind waking up to a screaming child every so often."

"Not at all," Alex laughed. "Thanks again."

Alex and I went off to the room, which was painted a very soft lavender.

"It's so nice," she said, sitting down on the bed. "I'm glad we're staying here." She looked at me. "How long do you want to stay?"

"As long as you want to stay," I told her. "It's all up to you."

"Well, I'm thinking that tomorrow, Braska, you, and I will go up to the temple so I can obtain the aeon, and then… then I guess we'll play it by ear."

"All right, then," I nodded, taking off my shoes and sword and setting them next to the pack.

"Auron?"

"Yes?"

"What was so important that I had to leave the room?"

"I'll tell you after dinner," I said. "I promise. It's not bad."

"Well, that's good," she sighed, walking over to me. "You had me worried you were going to tell me you never wanted to see me again or something."

"No, not at all!" I said quickly. "It's just about the opposite."

"Again, good." She kissed my cheek. "Now, how about we go out to the kitchen and see if Mara needs any help?"

"All right," I nodded, taking her hand. "Let's go."